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The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is back in action with the PFL Europe: 2023 Regular Season. The season kicked off on February 25, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will continue with regular season events throughout Europe.
Saturday 03.25.2023 at 12:00 PM ET
The PFL Europe features six weight classes, each with eight fighters competing for a shot at the championship and a $1 million prize. The regular season events consist of a series of fights, with each fighter facing off against every other fighter in their weight class. The fighters earn points for wins and draws, with bonus points awarded for finishes.
One of the most highly anticipated matchups in the PFL Europe: 2023 Regular Season was the lightweight bout between former UFC fighter Leonardo Santos and French striker Mickael Lebout. Santos, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, was making his PFL debut after a long layoff, while Lebout was looking to bounce back from a loss in his last fight.
The fight was a back-and-forth affair, with Santos showing off his grappling skills and Lebout landing some heavy strikes on the feet. In the end, Santos was able to secure a unanimous decision victory, earning three points in the PFL standings.
Another standout performance came from welterweight prospect Mert Özyildirim, who scored a first-round TKO victory over former Bellator fighter Andrey Koreshkov. Özyildirim, a Turkish fighter with a 12-2 record, showed off his striking skills with some heavy punches and kicks, eventually dropping Koreshkov and finishing him with ground-and-pound strikes.
In the featherweight division, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison continued her dominant run in the PFL with a first-round armbar submission victory over Irish fighter Sinead Kavanagh. Harrison, who is 5-0 in the PFL and the reigning champion at 155 pounds, earned six points for the submission victory and looks poised to make another deep run in the tournament.
The PFL Europe: 2023 Regular Season also features a number of other exciting fighters, including former UFC fighter Norman Parke in the lightweight division and Bellator veteran Ed Ruth in the welterweight division.
The regular season events will continue throughout Europe, with the next event scheduled for March 31 in Berlin, Germany. The season will culminate with the PFL Europe Championship, where the top fighters in each weight class will compete for the championship and the $1 million prize.
Overall, the PFL Europe: 2023 Regular Season has already proven to be an exciting and highly competitive event. With top-level fighters from around the world competing for the ultimate prize, fans can expect to see some of the best MMA action Europe has to offer.
